Kristin Richards

A native of Morgantown, West Virginia, Dr. Kristin Richards serves as Contributing Faculty at Walden University, where she has taught since 2014. Dr. Richards has taught in higher education since 2011 and has held academic leadership roles, including service as Chair of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Jackson State University.

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Richards currently serves as Director of Research at Empower Mississippi, where she leads data-driven research initiatives focused on education policy, workforce development, and family economic stability.

Her prior academic appointments include Associate Professor in the Master of Social Work program at Jackson State University; Assistant Professor in the Master of Social Work program at Mississippi Valley State University; Adjunct Professor in the College of Business and Aviation at Delta State University; and Instructor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University.

Dr. Richards earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee; her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and her PhD from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She also holds a Certificate in Financial Planning from Florida State University and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Mississippi.

Committed to helping individuals and families strengthen their financial lives, Dr. Richards has served as a research fellow with the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) and was a recipient of a research grant from Equifax Inc.. She regularly presents her research at financial literacy forums and has twice been recognized as a Hot Topic presenter by the Council on Social Work Education.

Education

PhD, Florida State University

Post-master's Certificate, Florida State University

MSW, University of Pennsylvania

BS, Belmont University